Contents

About the course

This popular course focuses on developing the knowledge and skills required of a specialist subject teacher of Mathematics working with students across the full secondary age and attainment range, including Post-16. You will develop your knowledge of the National Curriculum at Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5. You will explore effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessing mathematics and participate in lively discussions about current issues within mathematics education.

All subject sessions at university are delivered in a seminar format, which enables good practice to be exemplified in a supportive environment. Subject mentors in partner schools will continue to help you to develop and refine your practical teachings skills including lesson planning, assessment and feedback. Employment prospects at the end of the course are excellent locally and further afield.

You will be encouraged to register as a STEM Ambassador at the start of the course and will utilise this status when delivering Mathematics Masterclasses and developing in-school STEM activities. Our close connection with the local Maths Hub network means that there are a number of additional opportunities available to you, including Mathematics TeachMeet events and conferences.

Students joining the course come with a range of prior experience, thus enriching the discussion in subject sessions.

A mathematics subject knowledge enhancement course is available to anyone who would benefit from updating their mathematics knowledge. This will be discussed with you at interview.

If you believe that every child can succeed in learning mathematics, are enthusiastic and have the capacity to work hard, we would like to receive an application from you.

An integral part of the course is to support you in gaining a post as a teacher. Each year around 50% of our trainees gain employment in our partnership schools. Newly Qualified Teachers have one of the highest employment rates of all graduates and are very much in demand. Employment rates over the past 5 years have consistently been 95%+. At the end of the course we will support you in your transition from the PGCE year into your first teaching post, and beyond.

Assessment:

You will be assessed on the basis of course work including written assignments, a resource task and an oral presentation of a small research project, as well as on your teaching practice.

Interview process

The selection process:

Trainees are recruited through a rigorous selection process. The team consider the personal statement and reference to decide whether to offer an interview.

At interview, you will be asked to complete:

A timed written task

A short presentation (details sent out with the interview invite)

A group task

An interview with two people, usually a university tutor and a mentor from school

References:

For your application, you will need two references which are submitted online.

How school placements work

We work very closely with our partner schools, to provide you with high quality teacher training to prepare you for your first teaching job and beyond. Our partner schools provide a range of settings from rural to inner city. Most schools are within a 30 mile radius of the University. You will practise teaching in at least two contrasting schools.

The course is designed with periods in University to give you the opportunity to reflect on your future development. Former trainees have made positive comments on the balance between theory and practice, carefully structured sessions, tutors' commitment to supporting trainees and trainees supporting each other and sharing good practice.

In each school you will be supported by a Professional Mentor, as well as your Subject Mentor. Their job is to see that you get as much out of your teaching placements as possible, and provide you with support and guidance. At interview you may meet teachers from our partnership schools as they take part in the selection process alongside University tutors.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

International students

£13,300

Every course has day-to-day costs for essential books, stationery, printing and photocopying.

Travel costs for placements vary depending on the location of schools and your mode of transport, sometimes these may be reclaimed depending on your individual circumstances.

We organise occasional visits to increase subject knowledge. Travel costs are at your own expense but we do encourage car sharing. In addition there is sometimes a fee but this is not normally more than £20 in total.

In addition, we encourage you to join subject specific associations. The cost is typically between £25 to £50 for which you benefit from their support, guidance and resources.

Financial support

You could be eligible for either:

a scholarship of £22,000

a bursary of £20,000

With a scholarship or bursary, you’ll also get early career payments of £5,000 each in your third and fifth year of teaching (£7,500 in some areas of England).

To qualify for a scholarship you’ll need a degree of 2:1 or above in maths or a related subject. For a bursary you’ll need a 2:2 or above in any subject.

You can’t claim both a bursary and a scholarship - you can only claim one.

Requirements

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent:

Honours degree (2:2 or above) from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject. Please email secondary@worc.ac.uk if you are unsure of the relevance of your degree.

If you have a non-mathematics (but numerate) degree and some employment experience using mathematics, contact us to discuss your options.

Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.

GCSEs:

Grade C/level 4 at GCSE in English Language and Mathematics (or equivalent) passed at the time of application.

University of Worcester equivalency tests are available. Please contact admissions@worc.ac.uk for further information.

Personal qualities

We are looking for trainees who are:

skilled and inspirational subject specialists

confident and reflective practitioners

effective communicators who can work in partnership

informed intellectuals who promote a love of learning

resilient professionals able to demonstrate high standards of personal conduct

School experience is desirable, but not essential prior to an interview. At interview we will discuss relevant prior school experience or opportunities you have had to work with school-aged children. At this point we will discuss with you whether additional school experience would support you in deciding that teaching is right for you.

Other requirements

Professional Skills Tests:

All teacher training applicants need to have passed the Numeracy and Literacy skills tests before the start of the course.

Health and Physical Capacity to Teach:

The DfE requires all trainees to satisfactorily complete a medical questionnaire to demonstrate their fitness to teach. People with disabilities or chronic illnesses may have the capacity to teach, just as those without disabilities or medical conditions may be unsuitable to teach.

DBS:

All entrants to ITT programmes will be subject to appropriate pre-selection checks, including disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), criminal records checks and children's barred list information.

About the training provider

The University of Worcester has a long-standing reputation for training excellent, highly employable teachers. Personalised academic and professional tutoring, from a range of experienced tutors and mentors, ensures that you will be supported throughout your course and in transition from trainee to teacher. With extensive research profiles, your learning is shaped by those helping to shape education itself.

You will benefit from our excellent partnerships with schools, in a wide range of geographical locations. With excellent support and dedicated school experience tutors, you will have the opportunity to flourish as an effective teacher, as part of your training.

Our Primary courses include a high quality tailored programme of training in all National Curriculum subjects, in addition to SEND and RE.

Trainee teachers at Secondary level can choose to add depth to their qualifications by involvement in additional enhancement programmes in key areas such as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities; working with learners who have English as an Additional Language; developing expertise in Citizenship; developing skills in a second STEM subject; preparing to be Education Leaders, or developing skills in Technology Enhanced Learning.

At Secondary level we also offer pre-training Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses in a range of subjects for those who need them.

Our inclusive courses attract applicants from a range of career and study backgrounds, including career changers and we welcome applications from all who meet our entry requirements.

Training with disabilities and other needs

The University of Worcester offers a wide range of support and advice to disabled students and also to parents, staff and those external agencies supporting disabled students.

Our Disability and Dyslexia Service offers support, advice and guidance to students who have a disability, medical condition or Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD). This support lasts throughout a student’s studies at the University of Worcester. We also work with and offer support and advice to University staff on how to meet the needs of disabled students.

We can provide assistance through:

Supporting disabled students with general enquiries

Implementing special arrangements for lectures, exams and field trips. This might include notes in advance or special arrangements in exams.

Where appropriate, we can arrange note takers, academic support tutors, library assistance, interpreters and transcribers.

Help with applying for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) which is there to fund these types of support in higher education.

Support and advice

Get support and advice about teaching

Register with Get into Teaching, the Department for Education’s free support and advice service, for personalised guidance from teaching experts. They can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events. You can also call them free on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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